Kerry Washington: Black, LGBT Communities 'Must Be Allies'

Kerry Washington: Black, LGBT Communities 'Must Be Allies'

The Scandal star delivers rousing speech at GLAAD Media Awards.

Kerry Washington has always been an ally for the LGBT community, and the Scandal star was recognized for her advocacy with the Vanguard Award at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday night.

Washington's remarks in her acceptance speech brought the audience to their feet. In addition to calling for more representation of the LGBT community in Hollywood, she also asked marginalized communities of all stripes to come together.

"Women, poor people, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans people, intersex people: we have been pitted against each other and made to feel like there are limited seats at the table for those of us who fall into the category of 'other,'" she said.

"As others, we are taught that to be successful, we must reject those other others or we will never belong."

She also challenged Black people who don't support same-sex marriage to resist "messages of hate."

"We can't say that we believe in each other's fundamental humanity and then turn a blind eye to the reality of each others' existence and the truth of each other's hearts. We must be allies. And we must be allies in this business because to be represented is to be humanized. And as long as anyone, anywhere is being made to feel less human, our very definition of humanity is at stake and we are all vulnerable."

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